Calling All Wingnuts

Really, honestly and truly… The best they’ve got are certifiable. This conversation proves it… Racist? I’m still scratching my head, amused…

Anyway, I asked her why she didn’t answer my emails about Walter Reed… That’s when panic set in. I was going to keep these private because I’m not sure it’s necessarily the right thing to do to use the Walter Reed scandal to score political points, but hell, maybe shame will work on the bastards. On February 25, I sent this email to Michelle (subject: let’s transcend politics for this):

Alright, I know how you feel about the MSM…

But the fact is that we can do better for our vets. There’s no doubt - none at all - that Vietnam vets have really been left behind and forgotten by “the system”.

We - if we have any decency left in us after all of our political animus - have to do our part to make sure the new generation of vets doesn’t get treated the same way.

I’m not talking about “spitting on the troops” or any kind of individual slights.

Michelle - as a former Marine (’85-90) - my heart breaks when I read the Newsweek and Wash Post stories about the wounded.

I have a friend that has a brother that was wounded in Iraq when he had to take his chopper down hard. He cracked a coupla lumbar vertebrae and tore up his knee when they ripped him out of the bird… He’s recovered and now the family’s greatest fear is that he’ll be sent back for a third tour.

Anyway, when I was talking with this friend, he teared up over the Washington Post article. He’s motivated to do something. I’ve offered my assistance.

He’s suggested a fundraiser for one of the established charities - and we’re also kicking around the idea of forming an organization to provide pro bono legal services to vets that need them.

Both ideas are worthy as far as they go.

This is part of what I wrote back to him:

I’m fairly starry-eyed when it comes to these things. I don’t think I’m the person to be any kind of public face for the effort (that’s why I went to Scott and Doug [redacted] (the retired pilot)), but do you think there is a way to either hook up with VFW - or Paul Rieckhoff’s group, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)?I’m wondering if I could use my network to create some momentum and buzz online for the establishment of a nationwide network of advocates that affiliates with one or another of the aforementioned groups. You, and your colleagues could add a lot of legitimacy to the effort. Scott and Doug have indicated a willingness to jump in with both feet (I can see them leading the student efforts). I’m fairly certain that I could reach some people in DC and in the blogosphere that would lend whatever support they could.One more thing… Something that I’ve really come to believe is that giving to charity - unless you are helping an individual - is really so much pissing in the wind. If you want real change, the way to do it is through politics. My basic thought pattern is that when a lobbyist can purchase a 50 million dollar contract with $100,000 in campaign donations, my $100 to any given charity is pretty insignificant. On the other hand, if we can find a way to pressure our pols to do the right thing for vets, well, their control of the hundreds of billions of dollars that are approved in every budget can make a real difference.So anything that gets done… well, I hope we can find a way to make some changes of a permanent nature…

Please don’t take this the wrong way - I know putting underwear and sweatpants on a vet that had his clothes torn off on the battlefield will make an incredible difference that is priceless in and of itself… but… you and I both know that this is not something that should be falling to you and I to take care of. So if we can find a way to use the law community to advocate more widely - well, I’d really like to see that.

Michelle - this is something where we can really make a difference. You’re a leader on your side of blogs… I know I’ve got people that will work with me to start the blogswarm that defines blogswarm in next year’s dictionaries. Is this something you’d consider getting behind?

One last thing: I haven’t made my mind up entirely, but I’m thinking that your constituency will probably not respect you any more for working with me. If you decide to jump aboard, I don’t think this is something that needs to be formalized (our behind the scenes talks). On the other hand, dropping any notions of “who really supports the troops” and actually working in good faith to embarrass our politicians into falling all over themselves to outdo one another with regards to “who really supports the troops” would definitely be a good thing… anyway, what I’m trying to say is that we can do this together or separately, but I’d love to hear from you that you’d flog your network to make this issue one that receives maximum attention when Congress gets back.

Please let me know what you think.

Best regards and thanks for your consideration,
Mike Stark

Anyway, I never heard back from her.

When I told her my name at first, I think it is conceivable that she didn’t recognize it. But when I mentioned that I was Mike Stark that asked George Allen about his arrest record and wife, it was perfectly clear that she recalled who I was, despite her protestations to the contrary. Further, you can hear her pissant lackey speak up in recognition…

Oh - and by the way… did y’all catch her taking the Lord Jesus Christ’s name in vain? Tsk tsk…